Claimer: I do hereby claim all rights and responsibility for the characters in this series of vignettes because the Amaranthine Saga is mine. (Which means I should probably behave myself since anything I say or do could be taken as canon.) Indulge the lot of us, especially the one making all the faux pas.
41
Speaking as a Friend
“ …that.” Gingko’s ears lay crooked against his hair, Continue reading
Drabble a Day. We’re almost through the first set of prompts for September installments of Lord Mettlebright’s Man, so here’s the next set.
And since Inktober is where this story began (and is therefore a Tradition), I’ll point out that the prompt list for 2019 has been posted:
Claimer: I do hereby claim all rights and responsibility for the characters in this series of vignettes because the Amaranthine Saga is mine. (Which means I should probably behave myself since anything I say or do could be taken as canon.) Indulge the lot of us, especially the blue one.
40
Comforting Truths
“Ready for this?” Continue reading
Claimer: I do hereby claim all rights and responsibility for the characters in this series of vignettes because the Amaranthine Saga is mine. (Which means I should probably behave myself since anything I say or do could be taken as canon.) Indulge the lot of us, especially for the one who’s rather more large.
39
Lording it Over
Jacques backed into a wall and Continue reading
Claimer: I do hereby claim all rights and responsibility for the characters in this series of vignettes because the Amaranthine Saga is mine. (Which means I should probably behave myself since anything I say or do could be taken as canon.) Indulge the lot of us, especially the one in the middle.
38
Flight or Flight
Jacques squared his shoulders, turned around, and Continue reading
Claimer: I do hereby claim all rights and responsibility for the characters in this series of vignettes because the Amaranthine Saga is mine. (Which means I should probably behave myself since anything I say or do could be taken as canon.) Indulge the lot of us, especially for the one who grew up going to St. George’s.
37
No Saint
Jacques was entirely unprepared to face a dragon. Continue reading
Claimer: I do hereby claim all rights and responsibility for the characters in this series of vignettes because the Amaranthine Saga is mine. (Which means I should probably behave myself since anything I say or do could be taken as canon.) Indulge the lot of us, especially for the favorite uncle.
36
Wherewithal
Jacques dug in his heels almost as hard as he gripped Argent’s hand. “I can’t.” Continue reading
Claimer: I do hereby claim all rights and responsibility for the characters in this series of vignettes because the Amaranthine Saga is mine. (Which means I should probably behave myself since anything I say or do could be taken as canon.) Indulge the lot of us, especially the one who still has nightmares.
35
Face Your Monsters
“This is what Lapis meant. Dragons lie with words. Foxes use illusions.” Continue reading
Claimer: I do hereby claim all rights and responsibility for the characters in this series of vignettes because the Amaranthine Saga is mine. (Which means I should probably behave myself since anything I say or do could be taken as canon.) Indulge the lot of us, especially the one who’s been drawn in.
34
Have it Out
Jacques stormed out, but Argent Continue reading
Claimer: I do hereby claim all rights and responsibility for the characters in this series of vignettes because the Amaranthine Saga is mine. (Which means I should probably behave myself since anything I say or do could be taken as canon.) Indulge the lot of us, especially for the susceptible one.
33
Painfully Honest
“Oh, very well.” Lapis set aside his tea. Continue reading
Claimer: I do hereby claim all rights and responsibility for the characters in this series of vignettes because the Amaranthine Saga is mine. (Which means I should probably behave myself since anything I say or do could be taken as canon.) Indulge the lot of us, especially the trustworthy one.
32
Devilishly Unfair
Quite sure he was playing with fire, Jacques dared to question Lord Mossberne. Continue reading
Jacques Smythe of the Uppington Smythes. In my mind, he barely resembles the character from Impeccable who shares his name, but since readers sometimes like knowing “behind the scenes” details, here’s something that even many of my fandom readers didn’t pick up on. In InuYasha, there’s a group of villains known as the Band of Seven.
Jakotsu & Bankotsu from InuYasha
In Impeccable, members of the Band of Seven were “cleverly” disguised among the Smythe relations (some of whom had the surname Kotsu). Doctor Stewart “Stewie” Smythe (Suikotsu) and brothers Boniface (Bankotsu) and Jacques (Jakotsu) carried their basic roles from my fanfic into Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox, where they claimed new lives with new meaning.
Especially Jacques.
• • •
But the one at the door had no reaver sense. Argent seriously doubted he had any sense at all.
Jacques Smythe executed a precise little bow. “Welcome home, honored master.”
“Still here?”
“Well spotted, sir.” The young man’s gaze swept over his attire, his face. Admiration seemed at war with simple awe. “Is that the Amaranthine equivalent of formal wear?”
“These are my clan’s colors.” Argent studied the silvered tips of his claws. There had been little time to change before their hasty departure. And Twineshaft had encouraged him to retain his finery. For Tsumiko’s sake.
Jacques mouth worked for several moments, as if sifting past all the flippant, flirtatious things he might usually to say. Lowering his eyes, he earnestly declared, “Truly sir, you are a tribute to Stately House.”
Someone had been coaching him in diplomacy. And Jacques was actually applying it? At this early hour? And in a very different sort of formal attire. Argent was almost afraid to ask. “What are you playing at?”
—Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox (Amaranthine Saga, #1)
• • •
Lord Mettlebright’s Man will be resuming today. The story is set immediately after the events of Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox. Updates will be daily. Prompts for September are selected, but you can always add to my options for future installments. Prompt Post! For now, it’s posting exclusively here, on the blog. (If the Amaranthine Saga ever shows up on fanfiction.net, I’ll add LMM in a hot second.) In the meantime, if you need to refresh your memory, Jacques’ story STARTS HERE >>
Jacques is Back. Thank you to everyone who responded to the Prompt Me, Please! post by contributing to the lists on the official Lord Mettlebright’s Man Prompt Post. I combed through them carefully and pre-selected each day’s theme for the month of September. Here are the first ten days:
I’m posting these prompts now in case you want to drabble or drawble along! ::twinkle::
September’s all covered, but you can still add to my options for future installments on the Prompt Post >>
Smythe. Jacques Smythe. I have the teensiest smidge of wiggle room in my current writing schedule, so I’m going to be adding a 100-word slot to my day. My goal is to have new chapters ready for you in September. (No promises, but that’s the plan.) With that in mind, I’ve been scanning my current list of prompts. And I’d like MOAR. And I’m especially looking for short phrases. Drop a few onto the prompt post, please?
Lord Mettlebright’s Man
PROMPT POST >>
• • •
More to Come. The first thirty-one chapters of Lord Mettlebright’s Man came courtesy #Inktober. I posted chapters based on the official prompt list for 2018. But now that we’ve reached November, it’s time to turn my attention to #NaNoWriMo. Jacques will be lulling for the duration, but I’m interested in collecting prompts for the next update burst. Here’s my challenge. Suggest a prompt—either a word or a phrase. I’ll choose my favorites and post the resulting list in advance, in case you’d like to drabble (or drawble) along next time I do a round.
Comment with…
FORTHRIGHT 